MEDfOR

Yesterday, the MEDfOR team successfully hosted a webinar dedicated to our newly selected non-EU students, supporting them as they prepare for their journey to Europe and the next steps of the programme.

The session was led by Ilaria from UNIPD (Italy), and featured two key presentations:

• Muhammed, from the Programme Secretariat, guided students through the administrative process, outlining month-by-month steps to ensure a smooth arrival at our partner universities.

• Prof. Jose Borges presented valuable insights on funding opportunities that students from this edition may be eligible to apply for.

The webinar was highly engaging, with strong participation and many thoughtful questions from students, all of which were addressed during the session.

We are excited to support our new cohort as they begin this important transition and look forward to welcoming them soon to the MEDfOR community!

🌿🔥 Learning by Doing: MEDfOR Field Experience in Catalonia

During a recent field experience in Gandesa (Catalonia), MEDfOR 14th Edition student Sophia Pruden took part in a prescribed burn alongside local experts. The intervention focused on reducing shrub cover in Aleppo pine stands, contributing to the development of strategic fuel breaks as part of ongoing fuel management efforts.

This activity builds on work carried out in previous years, highlighting the importance of long-term planning in wildfire risk reduction. Sophia actively participated in ignition operations and observed different firing techniques and fire behavior, gaining valuable hands-on experience in applied forest management.

An interesting takeaway from the experience was the contrast in burn seasons across regions. While broadcast burning in Northern California typically occurs later in the year (May–June), Catalonia’s spring burn season begins much earlier.

Experiences like this showcase the value of international exchange in forestry education, providing students with practical insights and exposure to diverse fire management approaches.

Instituto Superior de Agronomia Universitat de Lleida (UdL)

🎓🌍 Celebrating a MEDfOR Success Story!

We are proud to congratulate Dr. Eric Cudjoe, MEDfOR alumnus, on the successful defense of his PhD at the Universidad de Valladolid 🇪🇸 — awarded with the highest distinction, “Sobresaliente Cum Laude.”

His journey reflects years of dedication, resilience, and passion for research in forestry and environmental sciences. From challenging moments to meaningful breakthroughs, this achievement stands as a testament to perseverance and growth.

We are especially moved by the personal strength behind this milestone, and the tribute to his late mother, whose inspiration accompanied him throughout this journey.

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Cudjoe — your MEDfOR family is proud of you!

🔗 Read his full reflection:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7424421683580796928-97v5/?skipRedirect=true

🌿🎓 We are pleased to share that Hanna , a MEDfOR alumna, has successfully defended her PhD thesis titled:

📘 “Evaluation and Characterisation of Sustainable Tools for the Control of Botryosphaeriaceae Canker (Diplodia corticola) in Cork Oak in Catalonia.”

🌳 Her research focused on improving sustainable strategies to manage one of the most important emerging diseases affecting cork oak forests in the Mediterranean region. Botryosphaeriaceae canker poses a serious threat to forest health, productivity, and long-term ecosystem resilience.

🔬 Through her work, Hanna evaluated and characterised innovative, sustainable tools to prevent and control this pathogen—contributing valuable knowledge for forest health management and the conservation of cork oak landscapes in Catalonia and across the Mediterranean.

🌍 Her achievement reflects the strong scientific training and international collaboration promoted by the MEDfOR programme, and highlights the vital role of young researchers in tackling key environmental challenges.

👏 Congratulations to Hanna on this incredible milestone, and best wishes for a bright and impactful future!

We are proud to celebrate the achievement of MEDfOR alumnus Dagm , who has successfully completed his PhD in Forestry and Natural Resources at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon with the supervision of Jose Borges and Susete Marques , graduating with the highest distinction.

Dagm is a graduate of the MEDfOR – Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management Erasmus Mundus Master’s programme, where he studied at the University of Lisbon and the University of Padua, two of the partner universities in the programme.

His doctoral research focused on advanced decision-support systems for sustainable forest and landscape management, combining optimization, machine learning, spatial modelling and data science to support better environmental decision-making.

Dagm defended his PhD dissertation at the University of Lisbon and his work is already contributing to innovative approaches for balancing biodiversity conservation, wildfire resilience, and sustainable resource management.

His original post has already received almost 385 reactions, showing the strong interest in this important work.

Read Dagm’s post here:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7435300670360084481/

Congratulations, Dagm! We wish you continued success in your research and career.

🎓 A huge congratulations to Sidra Khan on earning her PhD! 🌲

Her groundbreaking research on wildfire exposure and community risk perception in Portugal shows how combining geospatial tools with local knowledge can truly strengthen resilience against one of the Mediterranean's biggest threats.

From MEDfOR Erasmus Mundus alumna to PhD graduate - Dr. Sidra Khan (PhD) exemplifies the global impact our community creates in forestry and natural resource management.

👏 Brava, Dr. Khan! Your work protects communities and inspires us all.

📢 Job Opportunity: Policy Manager – Forest Management (2 Positions)
Organization: FSC International
Location: Bonn, Germany

We are pleased to share an exciting career opportunity from one of our MEDfOR alumni.

Our graduate, Rankeshwarnath Sanjay Mishr (MEDfOR 2021–23), is currently working as a Policy Manager (Forest Management) at FSC International and has reached out to the MEDfOR community to help disseminate these openings.

🌿 FSC International’s Forest Management team has opened two Policy Manager positions and is looking for motivated professionals.

👉 Why this matters:
Join a global leader in sustainable forestry and make a real impact on forest conservation and policy worldwide

✨ Ideal for professionals passionate about:

Forest policy
Sustainable forest management
Creating a positive global impact

🔗 Job Description & Application:
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4377155620

Know someone who'd be perfect for this role? Tag them below! 👇
Let's strengthen our alumni network and support meaningful careers in sustainability. 🌍💚

Let’s continue supporting our alumni network and helping outstanding candidates advance their careers in sustainability and forest management. 🌍🌱

Forest Stewardship Council sucht Policy Manager Forest Management (m-f-d) in Bonn | LinkedIn 11:20:17 gepostet. The ScopeThis position involves providing technical expertise, identifying alignment needs…. Sehen Sie sich dieses und weitere Jobangebote auf LinkedIn an.

📢 We are delighted to announce a new partnership!

Beijing Forestry University is now an associated partner of the MEDfOR program.

Beijing Forestry University is one of China’s leading institutions in forestry, ecology, environmental conservation, and sustainable natural-resource management. With a strong commitment to advancing global forest science and addressing major environmental challenges, the university actively fosters international collaboration and innovation.

As an associate partner of the MEDfOR program, Beijing Forestry University looks forward to:

🌿 Exchanging academic and professional expertise

🌿 Sending professors as guest lecturers

🌿 Hosting visiting scholars

🌿 Supporting and/or co-supervising MEDfOR students’ internships and M.Sc. theses

🌿 Promoting the MEDfOR program within our networks

We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and shared efforts toward sustainable forestry and natural-resource management worldwide.

🎉 We are proud to share exciting news!

The Mediterranean Model Forest Network has officially nominated our MEDfOR – Erasmus Mundus Master in Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management – for the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2026 annonced by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

This nomination is an important recognition of MEDfOR’s global contribution to climate action, sustainable land governance and the resilience of climate-vulnerable ecosystems. Since 2012, our program has:

🌍 Trained 249 graduates from across the Mediterranean and 47 other countries
🎓 Delivered 84 interdisciplinary courses powered by 127 scholars from 7 partner universities and 27 invited experts
🌱 Contributed to high-impact dissertation research on climate adaptation, resilience, risk, disturbance, carbon, mitigation, governance and more
🌐 Supported students through competitive funding from programs including Erasmus Mundus and GIZ , ensuring equitable access and gender-focused support
💼 Seen our alumni advance to PhD studies and careers in sustainability and climate-related fields in 37 countries and international organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

For over a decade, MEDfOR has been building a global community of professionals equipped to predict, mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts—especially in the Mediterranean, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

Being nominated for the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity is not just an honor—it reinforces the urgent need for long-term, systemic climate solutions driven by education, science, and global collaboration.

🌿 Thank you to the Mediterranean Model Forest Network for this meaningful nomination.

🌟 We look forward to continuing our mission of empowering future leaders in sustainable natural resources management.

Instituto Superior de Agronomia, , CEF - Centro de Estudos Florestais, Università degli Studi di Padova Universitat de Lleida (UdL) University of Tuscia (2025-2026) of valladolid, portugues and Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi

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🌲 Advance Your Forestry Career: MEDfOR 15th Edition Applications Open!

The second call for the prestigious MEDfOR Master Programme is now officially open for EU Candidates. If you are looking to specialize in Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management, now is the time to apply.

Key Details:
Target: EU Candidates only.

Deadline: May 30, 2026 – 23:59 (Lisbon Time).

Join a network of professionals dedicated to sustainable ecosystem management.

🔗 Start your application here: https://medfor.eu/content/how-apply

🎓✨ Congratulations, Ayton A Melese !

We are proud to celebrate the achievement of Aytolgn Asnakew Melese, who has successfully defended his MSc thesis titled:

"Characterization and Grading of Selected Indigenous Natural Frankincense Products in Pastoral and Agropastoral Regions of Ethiopia."

🗓️ Date: December 2025
🏫 Institution: ISA, Universidade de Lisboa (ISA ULisboa), Portugal 🔬 Supervised by: Dr. Duarte Miranda Neiva and Dr. Sisay Feleke Asfaw

Aytolgn’s research provides vital insights into the quality and classification of indigenous frankincense in Ethiopia. By focusing on products from pastoral and agropastoral regions, his work bridges the gap between traditional resource use and modern grading standards. This research is essential for enhancing the value chains of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and supporting the sustainable livelihoods of local communities. 🌲✨🇪🇹

🌟 This thesis contributes significantly to the field of forest product science and sustainable development, reflecting the diverse and impactful research focus of the MEDfOR program.

Wishing you continued success and a brilliant career ahead, Aytolgn!

⏳ Only 14 Days Left! Join the 15th Edition of MEDfOR.

Applications for the MEDfOR Master Programme are closing soon. If you are passionate about Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management, now is the time to act!

Deadline: December 31, 2025 | 23:59 (Lisbon Time) Category: Self-Funding

While Erasmus Mundus scholarships are not available for this round, MEDfOR is committed to providing a high-quality, supported experience for our self-funded students, including:

✅ Full Insurance: Complete compliance with Erasmus standards.

✈️ Travel Subsidies: Support for both Winter and Summer Schools.

💼 Career Pathing: We work closely with associated partners to offer funded internship opportunities.

Don't miss the chance to be part of a global network of forestry experts.

🔗 Apply here: https://medfor.eu/content/how-apply